Needed, a Task Force on Task Forces

Put off until tomorrow what you don't want to do today

The legislature was on a major task force kick during the 2013 session.

The Courant's Daniela Altimari reported last week that it created no less than 70 task forces.

What, you are probably wondering, do task forces do?

Well, they …

Kicks cans down the road.

Avoid hurting someone's feelings.

Sidetrack the nuttier stuff.

Create the illusion of progress.

There are also instances of a task force producing a well researched, well thought out, useful report, but when that happens it is generally regarded as a coincidence.

The task force has pretty much replaced the once ubiquitous blue-ribbon panel, although there are pronounced differences between the two.

For one thing, people who sit on blue-ribbon panels are usually prominent members of the community, whose major responsibility is to show up for photo opportunities.

As for doing any work, blue-ribbon panel members almost always have people to handle that. If you do not have your own people, it is very difficult to be chosen for a blue-ribbon panel.

During the recent session, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed legislation that created 12 task forces and one working group.

The major difference between a task force, a blue-ribbon panel and a working group, is that a working group usually comes with lunch.

Congress, of course, tends to favor committees and subcommittees. These are usually standing committees, although I'm pretty sure that during meetings you are allowed to sit down if you want.

Over in the Senate they have taken to forming bipartisan "gangs" when they want to get something done.

These gangs are usually referred to by numbers, such as "the Gang of 8" or the "Gang of 12." I don't know if the senators who belong to these gangs have secret tattoos or not, but maybe we could form a task force to look into that.

Connecticut No. 1 Again (Yawn)

Yet another study, this one focusing on overall well-being, rates Connecticut as No. 1 in the country. The study by Measure of America in conjunction with the Social Science Research Council (neither of whom I've ever heard of) weighed not just income, but such things as health and education, freedoms and opportunities. Connecticut is followed by Massachusetts, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., and Maryland. The bottom five states are Alabama, Kentucky, West Virginia, Arkansas, and Mississippi, which has to be good news for South Carolina and Texas.

Fans Boo Malloy

Gov. Malloy was roundly booed at the Eastern League All-Star Game in New Britain this week. According to one report his remarks were barely audible so raucous was the crowd. The governor should not take it personally. It is a tradition to boo politicians at games. Of course, some fans are tougher than others. In Philadelphia, a sports crowd once booed Santa Claus.

And The Perks Just Keep On Coming

When last we had heard of Jared Kupiec, it was late June and he had just left his $110,000-a-year position as chief of staff to Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra.

The time before that, Kupiec had attracted our attention for using his city credit card to pay the $700 tab for a fancy-schmancy New Year's Eve dinner at Max Downtown attended by eight people including Mayor Champagne Wishes and Caviar Dreams.

Kupiec is now being investigated by Hartford Police for allegedly continuing to drive a city-owned SUV two weeks after he officially left the city's employ.

Is Hartford a great place to work, or what?

Weak Bits

The National Shooting Sports Foundation, headquartered in Newton, filed suit over the strict guns laws passed the by Connecticut legislature this spring, and also withdraw its support for the creation of the Coltsville National Historical Park in Hartford. Can the announcement of a move to South Carolina be far behind?

A meeting is scheduled for Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Lyceum, 227 Lawrence St., Hartford, to discuss the dumb idea of spending millions of dollars to build a zig-zagging bridge over the busway to keep Flower Street open to pedestrians. The Weak is on the record of favoring the much less expensive Broad Street walkway connector, also know as the "Funnel of Death."

The city of Bristol had a good week and a bad week. Diane Keaton, Michael Douglas and Rob Reiner were in town at Lake Compounce to film scenes for a movie. On the flip side, court documents revealed an all Bristol lineup of players involved in the Aaron Hernandez murder case.

The candidacy of former Congressman Anthony Weiner for mayor of New York was trumped this past week by the announcement that former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer is running for New York City comptroller. The makers of tighty-whities and black socks are no doubt pleased.

The Weak in Tweets

Have to think Cheech and Chong in charge of Capitol Avenue repaving.

Going over the legislature's "implementer" bill to see if I have any money coming my way.

Did you ever wonder if people watch hot dog eating contests for the same reason people watch car races?

Charles Saatchi divorcing Nigella Lawson. Grounds? She didn't defend him for choking her in public.